Scottish Government Offers Bursary For STEM Teachers

Looking to change careers? Why not find out more about the bursaries on offer from the Scottish Government to become a STEM teacher.

The Scottish Government has announced that there will be funding for 100 bursaries for people looking to change careers and become a STEM teacher. Becoming a teacher that focuses on STEM subjects means you could be teaching science, technology, engineering and maths. These grants are a further commitment from the Scottish Government to develop these subjects in our schools.

In addition to the 100 bursaries that will be available the Scottish Government will also provide a further 20 places on the University of Aberdeen’s PGDE Internship programme. The internship programme is for individuals who have lost, or are at risk of losing their jobs in the oil and gas sector.

Education Secretary John Swinney has stated on the Scottish Government website:

“Developing Scotland’s STEM talent and capability will drive economic growth and increase innovation. The key to having more young people enthused and inspired to learn STEM and take up jobs and careers in these fields is having great STEM teachers.

“We know there are people with the talent and experience needed to inspire the next generation, and we want to make a career in teaching more accessible to a wider range of people.

“These bursaries will make it easier for those considering a career change into teaching to take that step, bridging the gap in employment and making a move into teaching a real possibility for many more people.

“Alongside our continuing support for the University of Aberdeen’s PGDE Internship programme, these bursaries will provide a vital boost to the recruitment of teachers in our most hard to fill subjects.”

Applications for the bursaries open on the 3rd of April with the teacher training courses beginning in August. The programme is open to applicants from Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands.

The University of Aberdeen's PGDE Internship allows for a former oil and gas worker to be employed as a classroom assistant while undertaking their teacher education.